St. Thomas Aquinas

The Summa Theologica

OF THE CAUSE OF SIN, ON THE PART OF MAN (FIVE ARTICLES)

We must now consider the cause of sin, on the part of man. Now, while
man, like the devil, is the cause of another's sin, by outward
suggestion, he has a certain special manner of causing sin, by way of
origin. Wherefore we must speak about original sin, the consideration of
which will be three-fold: (1) Of its transmission; (2) of its essence;
(3) of its subject.

Under the first head there are five points of inquiry:

(1) Whether man's first sin is transmitted, by way of origin to his
descendants?

(2) Whether all the other sins of our first parent, or of any other
parents, are transmitted to their descendants, by way of origin?

(3) Whether original sin is contracted by all those who are begotten of
Adam by way of seminal generation?

(4) Whether it would be contracted by anyone formed miraculously from
some part of the human body?

(5) Whether original sin would have been contracted if the woman, and
not the man, had sinned?

Whether the first sin of our first parent is contracted by his descendants, by way of origin?

Objection 1: It would seem that the first sin of our first parent is not
contracted by others, by way of origin. For it is written (Ezech. 18:20):
"The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father." But he would bear
the iniquity if he contracted it from him. Therefore no one contracts any
sin from one of his parents by way of origin.

Objection 2: Further, an accident is not transmitted by way of origin, unless
its subject be also transmitted, since accidents do not pass from one
subject to another. Now the rational soul which is the subject of sin, is
not transmitted by way of origin, as was shown in the FP, Question [118], Article [2].
Therefore neither can any sin be transmitted by way of origin.

Objection 3: Further, whatever is transmitted by way of human origin, is
caused by the semen. But the semen cannot cause sin, because it lacks the
rational part of the soul, which alone can be a cause of sin. Therefore
no sin can be contracted by way of origin.

Objection 4: Further, that which is more perfect in nature, is more powerful
in action. Now perfect flesh cannot infect the soul united to it, else
the soul could not be cleansed of original sin, so long as it is united
to the body. Much less, therefore, can the semen infect the soul.

Objection 5: Further, the Philosopher says (Ethic. iii, 5): "No one finds
fault with those who are ugly by nature, but only those who are so
through want of exercise and through carelessness." Now those are said to
be "naturally ugly," who are so from their origin. Therefore nothing
which comes by way of origin is blameworthy or sinful.

On the contrary, The Apostle says (Rm. 5:12): "By one man sin entered
into this world, and by sin death." Nor can this be understood as
denoting imitation or suggestion, since it is written (Wis. 2:24): "By
the envy of the devil, death came into this world." It follows therefore
that through origin from the first man sin entered into the world.

I answer that, According to the Catholic Faith we are bound to hold that
the first sin of the first man is transmitted to his descendants, by way
of origin. For this reason children are taken to be baptized soon after
their birth, to show that they have to be washed from some uncleanness.
The contrary is part of the Pelagian heresy, as is clear from Augustine
in many of his books [*For instance, Retract. i, 9; De Pecc. Merit. et
Remiss. ix; Contra Julian. iii, 1; De Dono Persev. xi, xii.]

In endeavoring to explain how the sin of our first parent could be
transmitted by way of origin to his descendants, various writers have
gone about it in various ways. For some, considering that the subject of
sin is the rational soul, maintained that the rational soul is
transmitted with the semen, so that thus an infected soul would seem to
produce other infected souls. Others, rejecting this as erroneous,
endeavored to show how the guilt of the parent's soul can be transmitted
to the children, even though the soul be not transmitted, from the fact
that defects of the body are transmitted from parent to child---thus a
leper may beget a leper, or a gouty man may be the father of a gouty son,
on account of some seminal corruption, although this corruption is not
leprosy or gout. Now since the body is proportionate to the soul, and
since the soul's defects redound into the body, and vice versa, in like
manner, say they, a culpable defect of the soul is passed on to the
child, through the transmission of the semen, albeit the semen itself is
not the subject of the guilt.

But all these explanations are insufficient. Because, granted that some
bodily defects are transmitted by way of origin from parent to child, and
granted that even some defects of the soul are transmitted in
consequence, on account of a defect in the bodily habit, as in the case
of idiots begetting idiots; nevertheless the fact of having a defect by
the way of origin seems to exclude the notion of guilt, which is
essentially something voluntary. Wherefore granted that the rational soul
were transmitted, from the very fact that the stain on the child's soul
is not in its will, it would cease to be a guilty stain binding its
subject to punishment; for, as the Philosopher says (Ethic. iii, 5), "no
one reproaches a man born blind; one rather takes pity on him."

Therefore we must explain the matter otherwise by saying that all men
born of Adam may be considered as one man, inasmuch as they have one
common nature, which they receive from their first parents; even as in
civil matters, all who are members of one community are reputed as one
body, and the whole community as one man. Indeed Porphyry says (Praedic.,
De Specie) that "by sharing the same species, many men are one man."
Accordingly the multitude of men born of Adam, are as so many members of
one body. Now the action of one member of the body, of the hand for
instance, is voluntary not by the will of that hand, but by the will of
the soul, the first mover of the members. Wherefore a murder which the
hand commits would not be imputed as a sin to the hand, considered by
itself as apart from the body, but is imputed to it as something
belonging to man and moved by man's first moving principle. In this way,
then, the disorder which is in this man born of Adam, is voluntary, not
by his will, but by the will of his first parent, who, by the movement of
generation, moves all who originate from him, even as the soul's will
moves all the members to their actions. Hence the sin which is thus
transmitted by the first parent to his descendants is called "original,"
just as the sin which flows from the soul into the bodily members is
called "actual." And just as the actual sin that is committed by a member
of the body, is not the sin of that member, except inasmuch as that
member is a part of the man, for which reason it is called a "human sin";
so original sin is not the sin of this person, except inasmuch as this
person receives his nature from his first parent, for which reason it is
called the "sin of nature," according to Eph. 2:3: "We . . . were by
nature children of wrath."

Reply to Objection 1: The son is said not to bear the iniquity of his father,
because he is not punished for his father's sin, unless he share in his
guilt. It is thus in the case before us: because guilt is transmitted by
the way of origin from father to son, even as actual sin is transmitted
through being imitated.

Reply to Objection 2: Although the soul is not transmitted, because the power in
the semen is not able to cause the rational soul, nevertheless the motion
of the semen is a disposition to the transmission of the rational soul:
so that the semen by its own power transmits the human nature from parent
to child, and with that nature, the stain which infects it: for he that
is born is associated with his first parent in his guilt, through the
fact that he inherits his nature from him by a kind of movement which is
that of generation.

Reply to Objection 3: Although the guilt is not actually in the semen, yet human
nature is there virtually accompanied by that guilt.

Reply to Objection 4: The semen is the principle of generation, which is an act
proper to nature, by helping it to propagate itself. Hence the soul is
more infected by the semen, than by the flesh which is already perfect,
and already affixed to a certain person.

Reply to Objection 5: A man is not blamed for that which he has from his origin,
if we consider the man born, in himself. But it we consider him as
referred to a principle, then he may be reproached for it: thus a man may
from his birth be under a family disgrace, on account of a crime
committed by one of his forbears.

Whether also other sins of the first parent or of nearer ancestors are transmitted to their descendants?

Objection 1: It would seem that also other sins, whether of the first parent
or of nearer ancestors, are transmitted to their descendants. For
punishment is never due unless for fault. Now some are punished by the
judgment of God for the sin of their immediate parents, according to Ex.
20:5: "I am . . . God . . . jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers
upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation." Furthermore,
according to human law, the children of those who are guilty of high
treason are disinherited. Therefore the guilt of nearer ancestors is also
transmitted to their descendants.

Objection 2: Further, a man can better transmit to another, that which he has
of himself, than that which he has received from another: thus fire heats
better than hot water does. Now a man transmits to his children, by the
way, of origin, the sin which he has from Adam. Much more therefore
should he transmit the sin which he has contracted of himself.

Objection 3: Further, the reason why we contract original sin from our first
parent is because we were in him as in the principle of our nature, which
he corrupted. But we were likewise in our nearer ancestors, as in
principles of our nature, which however it be corrupt, can be corrupted
yet more by sin, according to Apoc. 22:11: "He that is filthy, let him be
filthier still." Therefore children contract, by the way of origin, the
sins of their nearer ancestors, even as they contract the sin of their
first parent.

On the contrary, Good is more self-diffusive than evil. But the merits
of the nearer ancestors are not transmitted to their descendants. Much
less therefore are their sins.

I answer that, Augustine puts this question in the Enchiridion xlvi,
xlvii, and leaves it unsolved. Yet if we look into the matter carefully
we shall see that it is impossible for the sins of the nearer ancestors,
or even any other but the first sin of our first parent to be transmitted
by way of origin. The reason is that a man begets his like in species but
not in individual. Consequently those things that pertain directly to the
individual, such as personal actions and matters affecting them, are not
transmitted by parents to their children: for a grammarian does not
transmit to his son the knowledge of grammar that he has acquired by his
own studies. On the other hand, those things that concern the nature of
the species, are transmitted by parents to their children, unless there
be a defect of nature: thus a man with eyes begets a son having eyes,
unless nature fails. And if nature be strong, even certain accidents of
the individual pertaining to natural disposition, are transmitted to the
children, e.g. fleetness of body, acuteness of intellect, and so forth;
but nowise those that are purely personal, as stated above.

Now just as something may belong to the person as such, and also
something through the gift of grace, so may something belong to the
nature as such, viz. whatever is caused by the principles of nature, and
something too through the gift of grace. In this way original justice, as
stated in the FP, Question [100], Article [1], was a gift of grace, conferred by God on
all human nature in our first parent. This gift the first man lost by his
first sin. Wherefore as that original justice together with the nature
was to have been transmitted to his posterity, so also was its disorder.
Other actual sins, however, whether of the first parent or of others, do
not corrupt the nature as nature, but only as the nature of that person,
i.e. in respect of the proneness to sin: and consequently other sins are
not transmitted.

Reply to Objection 1: According to Augustine in his letter to Avitus [*Ep. ad
Auxilium ccl.], children are never inflicted with spiritual punishment on
account of their parents, unless they share in their guilt, either in
their origin, or by imitation, because every soul is God's immediate
property, as stated in Ezech. 18:4. Sometimes, however, by Divine or
human judgment, children receive bodily punishment on their parents'
account, inasmuch as the child, as to its body, is part of its father.

Reply to Objection 2: A man can more easily transmit that which he has of
himself, provided it be transmissible. But the actual sins of our nearer
ancestors are not transmissible, because they are purely personal, as
stated above.

Reply to Objection 3: The first sin infects nature with a human corruption
pertaining to nature; whereas other sins infect it with a corruption
pertaining only to the person.

Whether the sin of the first parent is transmitted, by the way of origin, to all men?

Objection 1: It would seem that the sin of the first parent is not
transmitted, by the way of origin, to all men. Because death is a
punishment consequent upon original sin. But not all those, who are born
of the seed of Adam, will die: since those who will be still living at
the coming of our Lord, will never die, as, seemingly, may be gathered
from 1 Thess. 4:14: "We who are alive . . . unto the coming of the Lord,
shall not prevent them who have slept." Therefore they do not contract
original sin.

Objection 2: Further, no one gives another what he has not himself. Now a man
who has been baptized has not original sin. Therefore he does not
transmit it to his children.

Objection 3: Further, the gift of Christ is greater than the sin of Adam, as
the Apostle declares (Rm. 5:15, seqq). But the gift of Christ is not
transmitted to all men: neither, therefore, is the sin of Adam.

On the contrary, The Apostle says (Rm. 5:12): "Death passed upon all men
in whom all have sinned."

I answer that, According to the Catholic Faith we must firmly believe
that, Christ alone excepted, all men descended from Adam contract
original sin from him; else all would not need redemption [*Cf.
Translator's note inserted before TP, Question [27]] which is through Christ;
and this is erroneous. The reason for this may be gathered from what has
been stated (Article [1]), viz. that original sin, in virtue of the sin of our
first parent, is transmitted to his posterity, just as, from the soul's
will, actual sin is transmitted to the members of the body, through their
being moved by the will. Now it is evident that actual sin can be
transmitted to all such members as have an inborn aptitude to be moved by
the will. Therefore original sin is transmitted to all those who are
moved by Adam by the movement of generation.

Reply to Objection 1: It is held with greater probability and more commonly that
all those that are alive at the coming of our Lord, will die, and rise
again shortly, as we shall state more fully in the TP (XP, Question [78], Article [1], Objection [1]). If, however, it be true, as others hold, that they will never
die, (an opinion which Jerome mentions among others in a letter to
Minerius, on the Resurrection of the Body---Ep. cxix), then we must say
in reply to the objection, that although they are not to die, the debt of
death is none the less in them, and that the punishment of death will be
remitted by God, since He can also forgive the punishment due for actual
sins.

Reply to Objection 1: Original sin is taken away by Baptism as to the guilt, in
so far as the soul recovers grace as regards the mind. Nevertheless
original sin remains in its effect as regards the "fomes," which is the
disorder of the lower parts of the soul and of the body itself, in
respect of which, and not of the mind, man exercises his power of
generation. Consequently those who are baptized transmit original sin:
since they do not beget as being renewed in Baptism, but as still
retaining something of the oldness of the first sin.

Reply to Objection 3: Just as Adam's sin is transmitted to all who are born of
Adam corporally, so is the grace of Christ transmitted to all that are
begotten of Him spiritually, by faith and Baptism: and this, not only
unto the removal of sin of their first parent, but also unto the removal
of actual sins, and the obtaining of glory.

Whether original sin would be contracted by a person formed miraculously from human flesh?

Objection 1: It would seem that original sin would be contracted by a person
formed miraculously from human flesh. For a gloss on Gn. 4:1 says that
"Adam's entire posterity was corrupted in his loins, because they were
not severed from him in the place of life, before he sinned, but in the
place of exile after he had sinned." But if a man were to be formed in
the aforesaid manner, his flesh would be severed in the place of exile.
Therefore it would contract original sin.

Objection 2: Further, original sin is caused in us by the soul being infected
through the flesh. But man's flesh is entirely corrupted. Therefore a
man's soul would contract the infection of original sin, from whatever
part of the flesh it was formed.

Objection 3: Further, original sin comes upon all from our first parent, in so
far as we were all in him when he sinned. But those who might be formed
out of human flesh, would have been in Adam. Therefore they would
contract original sin.

On the contrary, They would not have been in Adam "according to seminal
virtue," which alone is the cause of the transmission of original sin, as
Augustine states (Gen. ad lit. x, 18, seqq.).

I answer that, As stated above (Articles [1],3), original sin is transmitted
from the first parent to his posterity, inasmuch as they are moved by him
through generation, even as the members are moved by the soul to actual
sin. Now there is no movement to generation except by the active power of
generation: so that those alone contract original sin, who are descended
from Adam through the active power of generation originally derived from
Adam, i.e. who are descended from him through seminal power; for the
seminal power is nothing else than the active power of generation. But if
anyone were to be formed by God out of human flesh, it is evident that
the active power would not be derived from Adam. Consequently he would
not contract original sin: even as a hand would have no part in a human
sin, if it were moved, not by the man's will, but by some external power.

Reply to Objection 1: Adam was not in the place of exile until after his sin.
Consequently it is not on account of the place of exile, but on account
of the sin, that original sin is transmitted to those to whom his active
generation extends.

Reply to Objection 2: The flesh does not corrupt the soul, except in so far as it
is the active principle in generation, as we have stated.

Reply to Objection 3: If a man were to be formed from human flesh, he would have
been in Adam, "by way of bodily substance" [*The expression is St.
Augustine's (Gen. ad lit. x). Cf. Summa Theologica TP, Question [31], Article [6], Reply to Objection [1]], but not according to seminal virtue, as stated above. Therefore he would not contract original sin.
Aquin.: SMT FS Question [81]Article [5] Thes. Para. 1/1
Whether if Eve, and not Adam, had sinned, their children would have contracted original sin?
Aquin.: SMT FS Question [81]Article [5] Obj. 1 Para. 1/1
OBJ 1: It would seem that if Eve, and not Adam, had sinned, their children would have contracted original sin. Because we contract original sin from our parents, in so far as we were once in them, according to the word of the Apostle (Rm. 5:12): "In whom all have sinned." Now a man
pre-exist in his mother as well as in his father. Therefore a man would
have contracted original sin from his mother's sin as well as from his
father's.

Objection 2: Further, if Eve, and not Adam, had sinned, their children would
have been born liable to suffering and death, since it is "the mother"
that "provides the matter in generation" as the Philosopher states (De
Gener. Animal. ii, 1,4), when death and liability to suffering are the
necessary results of matter. Now liability to suffering and the necessity
of dying are punishments of original sin. Therefore if Eve, and not Adam,
had sinned, their children would contract original sin.

Objection 3: Further, Damascene says (De Fide Orth. iii, 3) that "the Holy
Ghost came upon the Virgin," (of whom Christ was to be born without
original sin) "purifying her." But this purification would not have been
necessary, if the infection of original sin were not contracted from the
mother. Therefore the infection of original sin is contracted from the
mother: so that if Eve had sinned, her children would have contracted
original sin, even if Adam had not sinned.

On the contrary, The Apostle says (Rm. 5:12): "By one man sin entered
into this world." Now if the woman would have transmitted original sin to
her children, he should have said that it entered by two, since both of
them sinned, or rather that it entered by a woman, since she sinned
first. Therefore original sin is transmitted to the children, not by the
mother, but by the father.

I answer that, The solution of this question is made clear by what has
been said. For it has been stated (Article [1]) that original sin is transmitted
by the first parent in so far as he is the mover in the begetting of his
children: wherefore it has been said (Article [4]) that if anyone were begotten
materially only, of human flesh, they would not contract original sin.
Now it is evident that in the opinion of philosophers, the active
principle of generation is from the father, while the mother provides the
matter. Therefore original sin, is contracted, not from the mother, but
from the father: so that, accordingly, if Eve, and not Adam, had sinned,
their children would not contract original sin: whereas, if Adam, and not
Eve, had sinned, they would contract it.

Reply to Objection 1: The child pre-exists in its father as in its active
principle, and in its mother, as in its material and passive principle.
Consequently the comparison fails.

Reply to Objection 2: Some hold that if Eve, and not Adam, had sinned, their
children would be immune from the sin, but would have been subject to the
necessity of dying and to other forms of suffering that are a necessary
result of the matter which is provided by the mother, not as punishments,
but as actual defects. This, however, seems unreasonable. Because, as
stated in the FP, Question [97], Articles [1], 2, ad 4, immortality and impassibility,
in the original state, were a result, not of the condition of matter, but
of original justice, whereby the body was subjected to the soul, so long
as the soul remained subject to God. Now privation of original justice is
original sin. If, therefore, supposing Adam had not sinned, original sin
would not have been transmitted to posterity on account of Eve's sin; it
is evident that the children would not have been deprived of original
justice: and consequently they would not have been liable to suffer and
subject to the necessity of dying.

Reply to Objection 3: This prevenient purification in the Blessed Virgin was not
needed to hinder the transmission of original sin, but because it
behooved the Mother of God "to shine with the greatest purity" [*Cf.
Anselm, De Concep. Virg. xviii.]. For nothing is worthy to receive God
unless it be pure, according to Ps. 92:5: "Holiness becometh Thy House, O
Lord."